Pole reenforcement



v ug- 4; 1931- E, M. BECHER i POLE REENFORCEMENT Filed'Aug. 22. 1927 vPatented Augu, 1931y 'i l* 1,817,341-Y i, Erin-RIDGE M. BEEGHER, or' NEwBRrrAIN, ooNNEc'rIcU'r .y Ik,roms REENFORCEMENT.

i fAppncation med Aignan, 1927. lseria1No.'214,es1.

"ment, and most particularly to a reenforcement suitable tor-'use in reentorcmg wooden 4poles such asfthose used for the support of i electrical conductors', telephoneland tele graph Wires, land the like. r -Poles of the above type are usually 41nsortedv in holes in the ground andthe useful life'ot a-'pole fi's'generally rmeasured by the le timey required yfor 'the' rotting 'off of f that portion ot the pole which is buried in the ground. Iny :most cases, they rotting proceedszmuchfaster at a point substantially adjacent the surface of thel ground,` since 'if at this point the Vpole is subjected'to greater changes intheV amount of moisture present. Sin'c'ethebutt ofthe pole is supportedby the"groundv iii- `which it is buried, the greatest strain on the pole ycomes atl the surtace of the ground, and it quite often happens that the pole bre'als'otf vat -this point after a fewyearss'ervice. The replacement of a pole is rather yexpensive and various eX- pedients have been proposed toremedy' the weakening ofthe poles in thislrespect.

Among the most efective means used are those in f which two or 'more reentorcing members are provided adapted to be set into the earth-'aloiigsideot the'v poles to which they are tightly clamped. These 'supports are `usually.provided with longitudinally eX- tending flanges vin order'to give them sutli-A cient rigidity, and clamping members which embrace the pole andthe supports. lThe 35 present invention pertains to a device of thissort.y y 'f As now known, supports of the above type -are eitherdriven into the ground yalongside and'tairly tightly against the pole,yand'have m their upper ends clamped against thev pole, -or are clamped to thepole aboveV and below the surface oi' the earth, it being customary in the latter case to either raise the pole a y sul'licient distance out of the ground or to y eXcavate around the pole in order that the lower clamping means'may be applied.v It

is iny general an object of the present invention to provide a support embodying a structure suitable for luse in either of the above manners.'V

lily inyention relates toapole reentorce- 'portA comprises boltsr or straps having vthreaded ends passing 'through or around 'times to the support itself. It isan-'object welo,vwhich may be advantageously placed rat the ground line andat additional 'posigtionfof parts to be hereinafter described and TheV clamping means for the usuall suplanges or ribs of thev support bodies and is va great tendency where the poles are placed in or near highways, or other places Y where pedestrians or vehicles pass, li'or 'the rough ends ot the bolts. and clamps to'catch in the clothing of the pedestrians, or various portions of passing Vehicles, resulting in damage to the clothing or'vehicle, or someof the present invention to provide Aa support in'which the ends of the clamping means are carried within the'boldy of the i support, wherebyv they may not be readily I engaged by the vvclothing of a 'pedestrian or ,70

the like.' v

In a more' specific aspect, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a vSupport presenting a substantially smootheX- teriorsurfacefin which there are no progectmg parts. Y Y

- Another object of the invention is tol make reentorcing members stronger than those heretotoreused-` l Still another object is to 'provide in a reenforcing member anv internal transverse strengthening means whichfresists bending strains, that may take the form of a `cross tions in the'length ofthe sired. Y v

` A still further object is to pro-vide pole reenforcing members which may be readily applied to a polea-nd which when applied I thereto present a smooth sightly appearance. To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combina-y support 'if de- Y claimed.

In the drawings, f y

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of ka pole, having a reenforcingr means, according 'nto my invention, applied thereto 100 FiO. 2 is a side view of the reenforcing members shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Fig'. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is an interior View of one of the su ports shown in Fig. l;

ig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modified form; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentaryview of a modified form.

Referring to the drawings in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the reference numeral 8 indicates a pole which, although shown broken away, will be understood to extend upwardly to any desired' height, and having a butt- 9 burieda substantial distance below the surface 10 of the earth l1.

Arranged on opposite sides of the pole 8 are a pair of substantially duplicate supports 12 and 13, each of these supports cornprising a hollow shell U-shaped in cross section, substantially throughout its length, and having two opposite parallel walls 14 and 15 forming the legs of the U, the terminal edges 16 and 17 of the legs 14 and 15 extending preferably but not necessarily in parallel relation to one another throughout the length of the support, and being adapted to bear against and embrace, to a certain extent, the pole 8. The upper end of the outer walls of each of the supports 12 and 13 is curved inwardly and terminates in an edge 18, which closely embraces the pole 8, while the lower ends of the supports 12 and 13 curve inwardly at 19, and then slightly outwardly at 2O to form relatively thin tapered lower edges, for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

Adjacent the upper ends of the supports 12 and 13 are outwardly facing pockets 21,

Veach of the pockets 21 being provided with an inner wall 22, extending longitudinally of the support and spaced slightly from the pole when the support is normally arranged thereon. The pockets 21 are provided with lower walls 23 which extend transversely to the su port andv pole, for a purpose to be fully escribed hereinafter.

On either side of the pole 8 are substantially duplicate clamps or bolts 24, having their ends 25, extending through the body of the supports 12 and 13, and into the pockets 21, the terminal portions of the clamps 24 being provided with threads, as

at 26, and nuts 27 being received thereon adapted to bear against the side walls 28 and 29 of the pockets 21 to draw the supports tightly against the surface of the pole.

At intermediate points in the supports 12 and 13 are outwardly facing pockets 30 and 31, having received therein clamps 32 and 33 in a manner similar to that in which clamps 24 are received in pockets 21. On the ends of clamps 32 and 33 are nuts 34 and 35, which bear against side walls 36, 37, 38 and 39 of the pockets 30 and 31. Near the lower ends of the supports 12 and 13 are outwardly facing pockets 40, having received therein the ends of clamps 41 in the same manner as in pocketsI and 31. It willbe readily understood that the walls 14 and 15 of the supports 12 and 13 take the place of the ordinary longitudinally extending flanges, but in order to assist the side walls and to give increased rigidity to the supports I have provided flanges 42 which extend' longitudinally of the supports in a position parallel. to and midway between the walls. 14 and 15. The flanges 42 extend inwardly toward pole 8 substantially the same distance asl the pocketsk 21, 30, 31. and 40. At an intermediate point of the supports 12 and 13v and between the pockets 30 and 31 are transverse flanges 43 connectingv the walls 14. and 15 together, and preventing relative displacementy thereof when the supports ar-ey clamped on the pole, and strains applied to the pole.v

In use the supports 12 and. 13 may be driven into the ground alongside a pole in a position where they bear tightly against the surface ofthe poleN When used in this manner, the walls 23 of the pockets 21 provide av convenient means for driving, While the relatively thin curved lower portion of the supports ensure that if a support meets an obstruction while being driven, it will not be displaced away from the pole, but, on the contrary, will wedge itself in. between the obstruction and the pole. Y The supports may be driven into the ground until they reach the position shown in Fig. 1, it being preferredv that a greater portion of the supports embrace the pole below the. surface of the ground than above, owing to the rotted condition of the pole below the surface. The clamps 24 and 32 may now be inserted through the openings provided in the side walls and the nuts 27 and 34 assembled thereon and adjusted. to cause thev supports 12' and 13 to tightly embrace the surface of the pole.

While the supports or reenforcing means of the present invention are highly effective when used in the preceding manner, I prefer to use them as follows'. The earth around the pole is either loosened enough. so the pole Y thevnuts assembled thereon. Upon screwing up the nutsthe supports will'be brought into. tight engagement with the pole, whereupon Y.

the pole may again beplaced inl'aosition in the ground and the earth replaced.

It will be notedthat when the supports are l driven into the ground it is practically. impossible toy clamptheir lower ends against the pole, whereas in the second mode Vof'use both ends maybe clamped, thereby preventing the lower ends Aof the supports' from being spread apart due to the pressure of the body of the pole thereon. In either case, however, it will be seen that there are no exposed bolt ends, flanges or other rough means calculated to catch onthe clothing of apedestrian or on a vehicle, these portions of the device beingcarri'ed within'y the outer walls, the nuts for the clampsgbeing accessible from theexterionhowever.

VVIn Fig. 6 I havefshown a modification in which theflanges42 ofthe supports: l2 and 13 are replaced with two anges44 and-'45,

-it beingunderstood vthat the Vnumbermay be increased, if desired.v f

In Fig. 7 I haveshown still Aanother modification in which bolts or clamps 46 and 47 .are shown receivedinthe body of thesup` portin staggered relation, it being possible i, withv this arrangement. to'havelonger boit or clamp ends and a greater amount of ad- Vrjustability.

As shown A1n Figs. 3 and 4, the only por- Y tions ofthe supports that'are in contact with Y the pole; for instance,.in certain cases, a

Cil

singie support member may be suiiicient. From the above description it will be readily seen that I have provided a reenforcing means for a pole possessing great strength and adapted to resist bending strains no matter in what direction applied. The structure isl such that the device may be readily cast, preferably in malleable iron, and when applied to a pole there are no projecting parts; the exposedl portions presenting a smooth appearance and the ends of the clamps, or other fastening means, being carriedl within the general contour of the outer surface, so that there are no rough parts which may catch on the clothing of pedestrians and the like.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same is not limited to,k all the detailsshown, but is -capable of modification andvariation within the spirit of the rinvention andtherscope of the' appended'A claims.'

What I claimy is k: `v

I1. A reenforcement for poles comprising reenforcing members adaptedfto beset into the earthat opposite vsides of a pole,l said members each comprising a body, having a transverse sectionv throughout the greater partv of its length substantially U-shape in form, the terminal edges of the legs of the U being adapted 'to bear against the surface vof the pole andmeans forclamping said members to thepole, the ends ofsaid clamps ing means passing through the bodies of said members and being received within the general contour of the outer surfaces theremembers each'. comprisingfabody having a transverse 4section throughout the #greater `part of itslength substantially U-shape in form, theterminal edges'lof the legs of the f A reenforcement for poles comprising vreenforcing members'adapted to be set into the earth at opposite sides ofa pole, said U being adaptedy tobear lagainst the sufface` Y of the pole yand means Vfor ,clamping saidy members to the pole, said clamping means comprising rods extending fromone member tothe other,the endsk of said rods pas'- sing through the bodies of the members and being carried Vwithin the general contour of the surfaces-of the members and-nuts on the ends of said rods. i

3.A reenforcement for poles comprising' members and into said pockets and nuts on the ends of saidrods withiny said pockets.

4. A reenforcement for poles comprising a hollow reenforcing member adapted lto be set into the ground againstvthe side of a pole, said member having an open side, the

from one member to theotherpthe ends of` -said rods passingA through the bodies of said edges of which are adapted to bear against l,

the'pole, the exposed portion ofsaid member presenting aV substantiallyr unobstructed smooth surface, ,said member being provvided'with a number ofoutwardlyv facing pockets and means'for clamping said memberto the pole, said means passing through said member and into the pockets.

- 5. A reenforcement for poles comprising ,hollow reenforcingmembers adapted to be set into the ground at opposite sides of a pole, each of said members having an open side, the edges of which are adapted to bear against the pole, the exposed portions of each of said members presenting a substantially unobstructed smooth surface, and

means for clamping said members to theV pole, said means comprising bolts extending from one member to the other, the ends of said bolts passing through the bodies of the members and having their ends within the general contours of the members, and nuts on the ends of said bolts.

6. A reenforcement for poles, comprising hollow reenforcing members adapted to be set into the ground at opposite sides of a pole, each of said members having an open side, the edges of which are adapted to bear against the pole, the exposed portions of each of said members presenting a substantially unobstructed smooth surface, out- ,Wardly facing pockets in said members, and

means for clamping said members to the pole, said means comprising bolts extending` from one member to the other, the ends of said bolts passing through the bodies of the membeis and into the pockets, and nuts on the ends of said bolts in said pockets.

7. In a support for a pole, spaced apart walls adapted to extend longitudinally of and outwardly7 from the pole on which the support is arranged, a wall formed integrally with and connecting said first named walls, said wall being spaced from the pole, said support presenting a substantially smooth outer surface when arranged on the pole, and clamping means for said support, the ends of said clamping means passing through the body of the support and being carried within the general contour of the support.

8. A ieenforcement for poles comprising two relatively wide generally parallel walls spaced apart a distance relatively less than the diameter of the poles and adapted to extend longitudinally of and outwardly from a pole, the corresponding edges of the side walls contacting with the pole throughout the length of the reenforcement, a wall formed integrally with and connecting said first named walls at the outer edges thereof, said connecting wall being spaced from the pole when the reenforcenient is applied thereto, said spaced apart walls and interconnecting wall forming a continuous uninterrupted outer surface, alongitudinally extending flange integrally formed with said interconnecting wall, said flange extending into the space between said interconnecting wall and pole, and means for securing the reenforcement to a pole.

9. A reenforcement for a pole comprising spaced apart relatively wide walls adapted to extend longitudinally of and outwardly from a`r pole, a wall formed integrally with and connecting said first named walls at the outer edges thereof, said connecting wall face for the reenforcement, an integrally formed transversely extending web connecting said walls together, said web being in the space between said wall and pole, andk means for securing said reenforceinent to a pole.

10. A reenforcement inember adapted to be driven alongside a pole, said member being in the form of a hollow box having an open side which may be applied to a pole, said member having transverse and longitudinal cross-sections generally convex in form whereby the lower end will hug the pole in driving, the outer surface of said member being substantially smooth and uninterrupted, and means including a part extending around the pole and into the interior of the vmember for clamping said member to a pole.

ll. A reenforcement member for a pole, said member being generally hollow and having longitudinally directed side walls, the edges of which may be applied to a pole, said member having a generally con- 9 vex transverse section and a substantially smooth uninterrupted outer surface and clamping means adapted to pass around the pole and into an interior part of the member and said member being provided with openings through which the ends of the clamping means may be reached from the exteriory of the member.

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of August, 1927.

ELDRIDGE M. BEECHER.

lOO 

